Need help tracing birth Rachel Thomas, or her parents, Llangynwyd, Llangyfelach

[shawnfbrown]

THank you.  i've sent an email to the vicar for assistance. 

[shawnfbrown]

Update, have not heard back from St Cynwyd church yet, but Glamorgan Archive confirmed Thomas, Hannah and son Richard Thomas (formerly foster son Richard Found from 1851 census) are buried in same grave and they think it is in the new graveyard, but the grave plan for the new churchyard in the Archive is in poor condition and dated 1864, so prior to burials in my case.  The Archives also checked the Glamorgan Family Historical Society's Monumental Index for the church and came up with the memorial inscription and translated it for me.  All very helpful.

I'm going to ask the Archives and/or Vicar if they can enlighten me further on burial in the Parish church if the Thomases were members of an independent church/chapel.

Question: how can i research adoption of Richard Found into the Thomas family?  He's not in my direct line, but I"m curious.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

I think they're in the old yard, as entries on the same page of the register as John very clearly mark which burials are in the new yard, and John's isn't. Having said that, Richard Found's burial in 1869 was in the new yard.

As I mentioned before, everyone had the right of burial in their parish churchyard according to civil law, so many nonconformists were buried in the local churchyard. Quite of few of mine were up in North Wales.

Richard's history will be difficult to find, as there were no legal adoptions in those days. His 1861 census entry suggests he was actually found. He may have been fostered out to the Thomases by the poor law union

[shawnfbrown]

Thanks, that all makes sense.

Richard's place of birth was Oystermouth, which isn't exactly close by. Maybe his family followed the coalmining and didn't survive.

At least when I visit the church I can visit the old and new churchyard, even without a specific grave.

You have been so much help, thank you.